Staying in the Room: Why Ireland Needs a Direct, Salient, and Permanent Narrative in Washington Amid Trump’s Trade Offensive
- Luke Hally
- Jun 2
- 1 min read
As Donald Trump's return to the White House signals a re-escalation of trade hostilities, Irish industry must confront a sobering truth: it is dangerously underrepresented in Washington at a time when decisions made there could severely reshape the transatlantic economic landscape. The European Union will, of course, negotiate its defensive red lines. Brussels will engage, retaliate, and posture. But Ireland, as one of the EU’s most exposed economies, particularly in pharmaceuticals, data services, agrifood, and aircraft leasing, cannot afford to leave its strategic messaging solely to others.
This moment demands more than diplomatic outreach or polite lobbying. It requires a salient, direct, and permanent presence in the US capital, one capable of crafting an urgent narrative that clearly conveys what Ireland is, what it offers, and why its prosperity is directly linked to America’s own economic and strategic interests. Anything less risks Ireland becoming collateral damage in a bilateral power contest that is increasingly transactional, zero-sum, and ideologically unmoored.
Read the full trade analysis below.
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